Sichuan Provincial Tourism Development Committee kicked off a “Study Tour in Sichuan” campaign themed “A Happy Journey for Youth in Summer” in August, giving university students throughout China a chance to travel and study in Sichuan at no cost through an online recruitment effort.

After receiving more than 200 entries, which were then subjected to a rigorous review and selection process, the organizer chose eight university students who articulated their love of travel in a meaningful way, expressed a genuine willingness to share, and excelled in writing and photography. The selected students were then divided into four groups, each assigned a specific travel route based on a theme. Some walked the streets of Chengdu , tasting some of the local delicacies while picking up some wisdom through gaining a feel for the day-to-day lives of the local populace, some toured Langzhong Old City and Jianmen Pass where they acquired knowledge about the history of the Three Kingdoms and explored the imperial examination culture of ancient times, some went to Jiuzhai Valley and Huanglong to experience the charm of world heritage sites and the magic of nature, while some visited the Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei to get closer to the nature and discover the stories behind the historical relics.

The students shared their travel experiences through photos and text, promoting the cultural and natural landscapes of Sichuan . They sent more than 300 photo text messages, wrote five travel guides and conducted seven live broadcasts via Weibo, a popular Chinese microblog platform. By working together, they also completed a practical and detailed Lonely Planet -style travel guide about Sichuan , which was posted on Chinese and global websites including TripAdvisor and Mafengwo, providing a travel guide for restaurants, hotels, transport, scenic spots, shopping and entertainment in Sichuan as well as cultural and historical information about the region for university students worldwide.